The Padres want rookie Jedd Gyorko to win the second base job. The bat is there, but there is a concern about his defense. Like Logan Forsythe, Gyorko is a natural third baseman. Gyorko, 24, hit .328 with 24 homers and 83 RBI in 92 games at Triple-A Tucson to end last season. If Gyorko wins the job, Forsythe could become a super utility player, spending time at short, second and possibly left field, where he has been taking fly balls recently at Petco Park. Switch-hitter Everth Cabrera strengthened his hold on the shortstop job by hitting .246, winning the National League stolen base title and becoming more consistent in the field over the second half of 2012. But if he again slips, Forsythe could get a long look.

Rotation

The Padres start with Clayton Richard and Edinson Volquez at the top, although neither is a No. 1. Then there is Jason Marquis and/or Eric Stults at the bottom. In the middle is a gaping hole. The plan was to plug that hole last winter with either a free agent or trade. That having failed, the Padres will be running auditions this spring. Leading candidates are holdovers Casey Kelly and Anthony Bass, prospect Robbie Erlin, aging Freddy Garcia or unprovens Tyson Ross and Sean O’Sullivan. The long-term prognosis is better if Cory Luebke and Joe Wieland successfully return later this summer from elbow reconstruction surgery. Andrew Cashner could be a factor after the first month. And General Manager Josh Byrnes hopes to complete a trade for a starter during spring training. But starting pitching could be this team’s Achilles Heel.

Catcher

The Padres felt they were set at catcher after Yasmani Grandal hit .297 with eight homers and 36 RBI over the last half of the 2012 season. Then he drew the 50-game suspension for testing positive for a PED (testosterone), creating a major problem. The remaining candidates are former starter Nick Hundley and career-backup John Baker. After a strong if injury-interrupted 2011 (.288, nine homers, 29 RBI in 82 games), Hundley, 29, bottomed out in 2012. Impaired by a horrible start and a knee injury, Hundley hit .157 with 56 strikeouts in 204 at-bats before having season-ending surgery. Baker hit .238 with no homers and 14 RBI in 193 at-bats.

Reserve outfielders

With Carlos Quentin’s troublesome right knee a concern in left field and Chris Denorfia and Will Venable platooning in right, the Padres might be forced to carry a fifth outfielder plus an infielder who can play outfield. That explains why Forsythe has been fielding fly balls at Petco Park. But Alexi Amarista can also fill that role. The question is where do Jesus Guzman and Mark Kotsay fit in? Plus, Kyle Blanks and James Darnell are returning from shoulder surgeries. Kotsay and Guzman are also potent pinch-hitters from the opposite side of the plate and both can spell Yonder Alonso at first. That’s six players for one, possibly two spots.

Bullpen

Again, it’s a numbers game with spots reserved for closer Huston Street, setup man Luke Gregerson and long-man Bass if he’s not in the rotation. The Padres have ample candidates for the four remaining spots led by four prospects who debuted last season (Brad Brach, Brad Boxberger, Miles Mikolas and Nick Vincent), left-handed specialists Joe Thatcher and Tom Layne and veteran Dale Thayer plus several recent signees.